Control mechanism



Feb. 11, 1958 A. R. GROSS CONTROL MECHANISM Y4t Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 14, 1953 .s il? ,6.

Feb. 11, 1958 A. R. GROSS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. WZ/kaal?, a/g/ BY W y Arme/vn@ Feb. 11, 1958 A. R. GROSS CONTROL MECHANISM l RESET 2,5/

Filed May 14, 1953 l {h-gj INVENTOR. zz/ 670,42/

BY M P Arra/vfys Feb. 11, 1958 A. R. GRoss CONTROL. MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14. 1953 ATTORNEY United States Patent C CONTRL MECHANISM Arthur R. Gross, St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 354,933

Claims. (Cl. 74161) My present invention relates to improvements in control mechanisms of the ratchet and pawl variety. While the invention is adapted for -a wide range of uses requiring step-by-step movement of the ratchet, it is particularly adapted as a step-up control mechanism for use in connection with coin controlled vending machines and other coin controlled apparatus as a totalizer; the word totalizer being a term used in the vending machine art to designate a step-up type of control apparatus which renders the vending machine operative responsive to insertion into a machine of a coin or combination of coins equal to the purchase price of the selected merchandise; and, in the event the machine is of the change-making variety, renders the change-maker operative responsive to insertion of coins amounting to more than the purchase price.

Typical examples of prior art control mechanisms known commercially as totalizers are found in the Tratsch Patent No. 2,459,008 of January 11, 1949, and in the Patzer Patent No. 2,609,698 of September 9, 1952. ln a more specific sense, it may be said that my present invention relates to improvements in mechanisms of the general character exemplified by these Tratsch and Patzer patents. An important distinction between the device or apparatus of my invention and those of the prior art, as exemplied by the said Tratsch and Patzer patents, resides in the use of a straight bar-like ratchet in place of the conventional ratchet wheels of said patents.

Among the important objectives of the instant invention are the following:

(A) Greater simplicity of construction;

(B) Reduced cost of construction;

(C) Improved efficiency and dependability of operation; and i (D) Simplified adjustment and readjustment.

The above and numerous other important features, objectives and advantages -of the instant invention will be emphasized or made apparent from the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein my invention is incorporated in a totalizer for vending machines, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a preferred form of step-up type control mechanism embodying my invention and primarily designed as a totalizer for vending machines;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the device `as being turned on its axis 90 with respect to Fig. l, with some parts broken away and some parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 lof Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view, taken approximately on the line 4-.4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is -an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view in side elevation, on the enice larged scale of Figs. 4 and 5, of one of the armatureacting push rods of Figs. 1 through 4;

Fig. 7 is a line diagram illustrating a proposed hookup of the electrical components of the device of Figs. 1 through 6 in conjunction with cooperating components of a vending machine control system;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale corresponding generally to Fig. 4, but showing a somewhat modified switching arrangement;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View, with some parts broken away, of a control mechanism corresponding broadly to that of Figs. 1 through 8, but showing a further modification of the invention;

Fig. l() is a view in front elevation of the modified control apparatus of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 1l is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. l0.

Description Figs. l through 7 The preferred form of control apparatus shown in Figs. l through 4 comprises a straight elongated and cross-sectionally circular toothed ratchet bar 1, a plurality of actuating pawls 2 and a corresponding plurality of electromagnetic actuators 3, 3a and 3b. Preferably, the cross-sectionally circular ratchet bar 1 is of light, non-magnetic material, such as aluminum, is straight longitudinally, and has circumferentially-extended completely circular teeth 4. Also, preferably and in the preferred arrangement illustrated, the said toothed ratchet bar l is disposed on -a generally vertical axis.

Means is provided for mounting and guiding the toothed ratchet bar l for straight-line reciprocating upward and downward movements from and back to a normal retracted inoperative position. Preferably, and as illus trated in Figs. 1 through 5, the said mounting and guiding means for ratchet bar 1 comprises a guide tube 5 within which the ratchet bar 1 is mounted for free axial movements. Preferably, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4, this guide tube is circular in cross-section and deiines a circular guide wall extending angularly about the ratchet bar 1.

The ratchet bar guiding tube 5 is shown as being mounted in -a bracket-like supporting frame or structure comprising a generally vertical back ilange 6 and inturned generally disposed lower and upper flanges 7 and 8, respectively, and an intermediate flange 9, shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. The guide tube 5 extends snugly through the anges 8 and 9 to which it is securely anchored and supported with its bottom disposed somewhat above the bottom flange 7 (see Figs. l and 2), which latter serves as a stop for the ratchet bar 1 and determines the retracted inoperative position of the latter.

Preferably, and as illustrated, the electromagnetic actuators 3, 3a and 3b each comprise a solenoid coil 10 and an armature-acting push rod indicated as an entirety by 11. The solenoid coils 10 are wound on non-magnetic sleeves or spools 12, which are preferably of brass, copper or the like, and loosely receive and serve as guides for the armature-acting push rods 11. By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that in the preferred arrangement illustrated, the axes of the solenoids 10 and armature-acting push rods 11 are disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the ratchet bar 1 and are angularly or circumferentially-spaced about the exterior of the gui-de tube 5. Preferably, and as illustrated, the armature-acting push rods 11 are composite structures comprising magnetically responsive lower sections 13 of iron or steel and non-magnetic upper portions or sections 14 having reduced diameter lower end portions 15, screw threaded into the upper ends of the magnetically responsive portions or sections 13 (see Fig. 6). Preferably, and as illustrated, the lower ends of the armatureacting push rods 11 are enlarged to provide heads 16,

which normally rest `upon the lower mounting bracket ange 7, which serves as a stop therefor. Of course, when the said armature-acting push rods 11 are in their fully retracted, normally inoperative positions, the magnetically responsive lower sections 13 thereof will be disposed in downwardly ott-center relation to the solenoids 10, as is shown best at the left in Fig. 2, wherein the upper end of the lower section 13 is shown as being disposed somewhat below the vertical center of the associated solenoid 1t). With this arrangement, the armature-acting push rods 11 are yieldingly urged by gravity toward their retracted inoperative positions established by the stop ange 7 and will be upwardly extended or projected by electromagnetic action upon energization of their respective solenoid coils 10.

The pawls 2 work through slots 17 in the circular Wall of the guide tube '5 and are each pivotally mounted at 18 to the upper end `of a diterent one of the armatureacting push rods 11 for limited swinging movements to and from an operative ratchet tooth engaging position. As will be seen particularly by reference to Fig. 2, the pawls 2 Aare pivoted oft-center so .as to be over balanced aud, hence, gravity urged toward their operative generally horizontal positions. As will 'also be seen, by reference particularly to Fig. 4, the pawls 2 work in slotted ends of the push rods 11 and are so formed and located as to engage the relatively flat bottoms of the said push rod slots at opposite limits of pivotal movement. A

Referring further to Fig. 4, it will be seen that, in the preferred arrangement illustrated, the lower ends of the pawl-receiving slots 17 are located in a common horizontal-plane and that the said inner or bottom end portions of the slots 17 are engaged by the pawls 2 during final retracting movements of the pawls 2 and push rods 11 and cause, by cam action, pivotal retracting movements of the pawls 2 from their operative tooth engaging positions, shown at the right in Fig. 4, to their inoperative retracted positions, shown at the left in Fig. 4. Likewise, it will be seen that the pawls 2 ride on the portions of the guide tube 5 defining the lower ends of the slots 17 during initial upward extending movements of the push rods 11 and pawls 2. The said lower ends of the'slots 17, which serve as stop portions, are indicated by 19. Y p

The upper or outer ends of the slot 17, indicated by V20, serve as upper stop portions for the pawls 2 and establish the limits of the operative ratchet extending movements of the pawls 2. In fact, as will be seen by reference to the right-hand side of Fig. 4, the pawls r engage the stop portion forming upper ends of the slot 17 at times when they are fully engaged with the ratchet bar teeth and are at their limits of their swinging movements in the directions of their operative positions, so

that the pawls positively arrest the extending movements I of the ratchet bar 1 coincidentally with interception of the pawls with the upper stop portions 20.

Now it will be seen again, by reference to Fig. 4, that the spaced stop portions 19 and 26, defined by portions of the guide tube 5, also deiining the spaced ends of the slots 17,determine the lengths of the operative or ciective throws of the respective cooperating pawls 2 and push rodsA 11 and the length of travel of the ratchet bar 1 responsive to a single energization of a cooperating solenoid 3, 321 or 3b. With this arrangement, it is, therefore, possible to vary the elective operative throw or movement of each pawl 2 and cooperatingV push rod 171 by merely varying the spacing between the cooperating stop portions 1S and 19; in other words, by varying tl e lengths of the slots V17. In the arrangement illustrated, this can be most Veffectively accomplished by shifting the stop-forming portions 20, defining the upper ends of the slot 17, toward or from the cooperating lower or inner stop-forming ends of the slots 17. Of course, much the same thing could be accomplished by placing the upper stop-forming end portions -20 of the slots .in a horizontal plane and placing the stop-forming lower end portions of the slots in different horizontal planes. In the latter case, the pawls 2 would simply ride along the outer surface of the yguide tube 5 for different distances during their initial projecting movements, and would engage the ratchet teeth at different degrees of projecting movement.

In the arrangement illustrated, the teeth of ratchet bar 1 each represent an increment of movement. For the present purpose, each said increment of movement may be assumed to represent five cents in coin. As illustrated, the pawl-receiving slot 17 for the pawl 2 operated by the electromagnetic actuator 3 is of such length as to allow one increment of movement of the ratchet bar for each energization of its solenoid 10; the slot 17 for the pawl 2 of electromagnetic actuator 3a is of such length as to allow two increments of movement for each energization of its solenoid 10; and the slot 17 for the pawl 2 of actuator 3b is of such length as to allow tive increments of movement for each energization of its solenoid 10. Hence, the electromagnetic actuator 3 represents tive cents; the actuator 3a represents ten cents; and the electromagnetic actuator 3b represents twenty-tive cents, as will be seen by signs on Figs. 1, 2 and 4, for example. By reference te Fig. 4, it will be seen that the ratchet bar 1 is provided at its upper end with a rounded cam-acting, switch actuating head 21 for progressive actuation of conventional micro-switches 22 and 23 mounted externally of the guide tube 5 and having plunger-like actuating elements 24 working through slots 25 and 26 in the guide tube 5 and located in the path of travel of the ratchet bar head 21; the element24 of switch 23 being located above the element 24 of switch 22 a distance equal to one ratchet tooth or increment of movement. Switches 22 and 23 are conventional micro-switches and, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 7, are of the normally open variety and will be progressively closed by engagement with the head 21.

In order to retain the ratchet bar 1 against accidental or uncalled-for return movements to its normal retracted position, I provide suitable releasing and holding means 25 (see particularly Fig. 2). Preferably, and as illustrated, 1 employ electromagnetic holding means comprising a holding pawl 26 and a cooperating electromagnet 27. The holding pawl 26 is pivoted at 2S to a supporting bracket 29, works through a suitable slot or aperture in the guide tube 5 and is yieldingly urged toward a position of operative engagement with the teeth 4 of the ratchet bar 1 by a biasing spring 30. The holding pawl 26' is of magnetically responsive metal, such as iron, and is so associated with the eelctromagnet 27 as to be retracted from its normal operative position, shown in Fig. 2, to an inoperative ratchet bar releasing position responsive to energization of the winding of the electromagnet.

It will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 1 through 6 that the switches 22 and 23 may be spaced different distances apart to meet different requirements and that a greatly increased number of switches corresponding to switches 22 and 23 may be added, if desired, each arranged with their ratchet intercepting portions at different elevations, if desired. Of course, for a greatly increased number of Vswtches, it will be necessary to increase the length of the head 21 of the ratchet bar 1. Of course,

common to all of the solenoids and 27. The power lead 31, on the other hand, is connected to the solenoid 10 of electromagnetic actuator 3 through a normally open coin controlled switch 33 and a lead 34, and is connected to solenoid 10 of electromagnetic actuator 3a by a normally open coin controlled switch and a lead 36; the lead 31 is connected to the solenoid 10 of electromagnetic actuator 3b through a normally open coin controlled switch 37 and a lead 38; and the lead 31 is connected to the coil of reset magnet 27 through a normally open switch 39. In the arrangement illustrated, the switch 33 will be arranged to be operated by nickels, the switch 35 Will be arranged to be operated by dimes, and the switch 37 will be arranged to be operated by quarters; each switch being arranged to be closed once for each coin of the denomination represented thereby inserted into the machine.

In applying the arrangement described to a vending machine, the normally open switch 22 will preferably be connected in a control circuit of the vending machine, not shown, but which will usually be a circuit controlling operation of the machine selector mechanism or a circuit controlling operation of the vending mechanism. Switch 22, on the other hand, will ordinarily be connected to the circuit of a change-making mechanism, not shown, but which will respond to closing of the switch 23 to return to the customer a coin or coins in the amount of overpayment.

As illustrated, the switch 23 is set for a twenty-cent purchase representing four increments of movement of the ratchet bar and which they may be obtained by insertion of four nickels, two -dimes or one dime and two nickels, for example. If coins totaling more than twenty cents or four increments of movement be inserted into the machine in any combination, such as one quarter, three dimes, six nickels, three nickels and one dime, or the like, the ratchet bar will be advanced six or more increments of movement and will close the change-maker switch 23 causing a return to the purchaser of the overpayment. In practice, the switch 39 in the circuit of the reset solenoid 27 will usually be arranged to be closed momentarily by some mechanism set into operation by closing of a circuit through any one of the solenoids 10.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 through 6, the amount of the purchase can be adjustably varied by vertically shifting positions of the switches 22 and 23 as a unit on the guide tube 5; this being accomplished by loosening clamping screws 40 on switch mounting bracket 41 and sliding the same on the tube to the desired location. As a very desirable feature of the invention, this adjustment is facilitated by provision on the guide tube of a scale 42, part of which is covered by the switch mounting bracket 41, but which is marked in increments each equal to an increment or tooth of movement of the ratchet bar and each of which increments represents ve cents purchase value. This scale 42 may be assumed to read from tive cents to one dollar for the purpose of example. The scale 42 is read in conjunction with the upper edge 43 of the bracket 41.

Description of Figure 8 The device of Fig. 8 is identical to that of Figs. 1 through 6, except for the type of switches employed and the mounting thereof. In this arrangement, the ratchet bar 1 is provided at its upper end with a conductive 2- step head 44 comprising a small diameter upper portion 45 and larger diameter' tapered lower portion 46. A diametrically opposed pair of spring contacts 47 correspond to switch 22 of Figs. l through 7 and a diametrically spaced pair of spring contacts 48 correspond to switch 23 of Figs. l through 7. Spring contacts 47 are rst engaged by the conductive tip portion 45 and electrically connected thereby. Then, upon completion of an additional increment of movement of the ratchet bar 1, the contacts 48 are engaged and closed by the portion 46 of the ratchet bar. The switch contacts 47 and 48 are mounted in a cylindrical plug-like element 49, which is mounted in the upper end of the guide tube 5 through the medium of an insulating tube 50. The upper end of the insulating tube is split, as indicated in Fig. 8, and a clamping band 51 is provided for retaining the adjustment of the switch contacts 47 and 48.

Description, Figs. 9 through 11 The modilied form of ydevice shown in these Figs. 9 through ll function precisely as does the device of Figs. 1 through 8 and equivalent parts are indicated by like characters. The primary and only important difference between the device of these figures and the device of the foregoing Figures l through 8 is the shape of the ratchet bar and the guide tube or wall therefor. In the latter iigures, the toothed ratchet bar, which is indicated by 52. is in the nature of a wide flat bar having transversely flat toothed surfaces in the opposite faces thereof. The so-called guide tube of Figs. 9 through l1 is of angular cross section to correspond generally to that of the angular cross-section of the ratchet bar 52 and said ratchet bar is provided with guide rollers 53 engaging opposite inside edge portions of the angular guide tube, which is indicated by 54. In these latter figures, the electromagnetic actuators 3, 3a and 3b are located in side-by-side relation opposite one toothed face of the ratchet bar 52 and the electromagnetic holding means 27 is located opposite the other toothed face of the ratchet bar S2, all outside of the guide tube 54. The mounting bracket for the switches 22 and 23 of Figs. 9 through ll is indicated by 55 and is held in place on the guide tube 54 by clamping screws 56. As previously indicated, the device of Figs. 9 through ll functions in the same manner as does the device of the Figs. l through 8.

While I have herein described several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of further modification without departing from the spirt and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What l claim is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a toothed ratchet bar, means mounting and guiding the toothed ratchet bar for longitudinal reciprocating movements from and back to a normal retracted position, said ratchet bar being yieldingly urged in the direction of its retracted inoperative position, means for advancing the ratchet bar in the direction of its extended position; said means comprising a solenoid iixedly mounted in spaced axially parallel relation to the ratchet bar, a magnetically responsive armature-acting push rod working axially in and through the solenoid for movements between retracted and advanced positions, and a ratchet bar tooth engaging pawl carried by the armature-acting push rod; there being a plurality of said means each being independently operative to advance the ratchet bar, each tooth of the ratchet bar representing an increment of movement, each said solenoid tending upon energization to advance its respective armature-acting push rod a distance to impart a plurality of increments of movements to the ratchet bar, stop means associated with each said armature-acting push rod to limit solenoid responsive movements of a plurality of said armature-acting push rods each to a distance representing a dilerent number of increments of movement of the ratchet bar.

2; The structure defined in claim l in which the said ratchet bar has toothed surfaces disposed in angularly spaced relation about the transverse center of the bar, and in which the said plurality of means are similarly disposed in angularly spaced relation about the transverse center of the ratchet bar.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the said ratchet bar and its teeth are generally circular in crosssection, 'and in which the said plurality of means are disposed fin angularly spaced relation about the axis 'of the ratchet Vbar 'with their respective pawls engaging the ratchet teeth at circumferentially-spaced points thereon.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the ratchet `bar has a relatively wide and transversely ilat toothed surface, and in which the said plurality of means are disposed in side by side relationship adjacent said toothed face with their respective pawls engaging the teeth at laterally-spaced points.

5. -A device of the class described comprising a toothed ratchet bar, means 'mounting and 'guiding the toothed ratchet bar for longitudinal advancing and retracting movements from and back to a normal retracted position, said ratchet bar `being yieldingly urged in the direction of its retracted position, means for advancing the ratchet bar Afrom its normal retracted position toward an extended operative position, the advancing means for the 'ratchet bar comprising a plurality of pawls and an electromagnetic actuator for each pawl operative to advance its respective pawl generally longitudinally of the ratchet bar, 'each said electromagnetc means comprising an element movable generally parallel to the ratchet bar and to which its respective pawl is pivoted for limited swinging movements between an operative ratchet bar tooth engaging position and a retracted inoperative position, each Vsaid pawl being yieldingly urged in the direction of its operative position and each said electromagnetic pawl actuator being yieldingly urged toward its retracted position, spaced stop portions for each said pawl, one of the stop portions for each pawl being disposed to intercept its said pawl during advancing movements thereof and the ratchet bar to positively limit advancing movements thereof and the ratchet bar, the other stop portion for each pawl being disposed to intercept the pawl `during tinal retracting movements thereof to cause pivotal retraction of the pawl from an engaged ratchet tooth, 'the space between spaced stop portions for each 'of 'atpluraiity of said pawls being equal to a diiferent number of ratchet teeth, whereby the ratchet bar will be advanced a different number of ratchet teeth responsive to operation of each of a plurality of the said electromagnetic actuating means, releasable electromagnetic 'holdingmeans for the ratchet bar, and a device to be operated by the ratchet bar and comprising a portion 'disposed for operative engagement by the ratchet bar at the completion of a predetermined advancement.

6. The structure dened in claim 5 in which the means for mounting and guiding the ratchet bar comprises r a wall generally parallel to the ratchet bar and slotted to receive said pawls, the said spaced stop portions for vthe pawls being defined by portions of said wall which define the ends of said slots.

7. The structure dened in claim 5 in which the 'said ratchet bar and teeth are generally circular and in which the said pawls and the actuating means therefor are angularly spaced thereabout.

v8V. The structure defined in claim 6 in which theV teeth of the ratchet bar are in a transversely substan- 'gana-ess tion ofrits vretracted position, means for advancing Vthe ratchet V4barffrom Vits 'normal retracted position toward an extended operative position, the advancing means for the 'ratchet bar comprising a plurality of pawls andan electromagnetic Vactuator for each pawl operative to advance its respective pawl generally longitudinally of the ratchet bar, each said Yelectromagnetic means comprising an element Ymovable generally parallel to the ratchet bar and to which its respective pawl is pivoted for limited swinging movements between an operative ratchet bar tooth engaging position and a retracted inoperative position, each said pawl being yieldingly urged in the direction of its operative position and each said electromagnetgicV-pawl actuator being yieldingly urged toward its retracted position, spaced stop portions for each said pawl, one of the stop portions for each pawl being disposed to intercept its said pawl during advancing movements thereof and the ratchet bar to positively limit advancing movements thereof and the ratchet bar, the other stop lportion for eachpawl being disposed to intercept the pawl during final retracting movements thereof to cause pivotal retraction of the pawl from an engaged ratchet tooth, and the space between spaced stop portions for cachot a plurality of said pawls being equal to a difterent number of ratchet teeth, whereby the ratchet bar will be advanced a diierent number of ratchet teeth responsiveto 'operation or each of a plurality of the said electromagnetic actuating means.

10.V A device of the class described comprising a toothed ratchet har, means mounting and guiding the toothed ratchet bar `for longitudinal reciprocating movements from and back to a normal retracted position, said ratchet bar being yieldingly urged in the ldirection of its re- 'i tracted inoperative position, means for advancing the means comprising a solenoid tixedly mounted in spaced axially paralel relation to the ratchet bar, a magnetically responsive armature-acting push rod working axially in and through the solenoid for movements between retracted and advanced positions, and a ratchet bar tooth engaging pawl carried by the armature-acting push rod; there being a plurality of said means each being independently operative to advance the ratchet bar, each tooth of the ratchet bar representing Van increment of movement, each said solenoid tending upon energization to advance its respective armature-acting push rod a distance'to impart aV plurality of increments of movement to the ratchet bar, stop means associated with each said rmature-acting push rod to limit solenoid responsive movements of a plurality of said armature-acting push rods each to a distance representing a diierent number of increments of movement of the ratchet bar, and switch means cooperatively associated with the ratchet bar and positioned `and arranged to be actuated thereby at the completion of a predetermined number of increments of advancing movement.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Aug. 30, 1924 

